Leviticus 27:15

• The Hebrew term translated as consecrates is emphatic and means "declares holy."

• This rule applies only to a house in a walled town. Other houses, whether in unwalled villages or on open land, returned to the owner in the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:29–31). If the owner wanted to redeem it, he had to pay an extra 20 percent. If he did not redeem the house in the first year, it became the property of the sanctuary and priests. They could use it as they wished.

This chapter concludes the book by discussing different types of vows. It ends with a rule for redeeming one's tithes (see also chapter Leviticus 25). At certain times, such as emergencies, a person might vow something to God in exchange for answered prayers (see Jonah 2:9). After God answered the prayer, the person might want to ignore the vow. Scripture requires that people vow carefully and then fulfill them (see Leviticus 5:4; Ecclesiastes 5:4–6). Jesus taught that people should not make oaths often or carelessly (Matthew 5:33–37; 23:16–22).